8 weeks!!!

I am so excited to reach 8 weeks in my pregnancy! I know there isn't anything special about 8 weeks, but it just feels like a good benchmark to me. Our ultrasound is a week from Tuesday- so that means this week will creep by.

So far, I can't complain about anything related to this pregnancy- not that I would even if I were miserable. I have wanted this for so very long that if I was constantly sick I still wouldn't complain. I know too many people who are struggling to start or grow their families, so I would never complain for this blessing I have been given, or any of the symptoms that go along with it.

But, I will update you on symptoms anyway. There really isn't much to tell. Last weekend I experienced almost constant nausea. Friday, January 20th, I got sick, for the first (and what has turned out to be the only) time. That Saturday and Sunday was a weekend full of nausea, but no more sickness. That whole weekend baffles me now, because this past week has been completely nausea free. It just seems like a blip on the radar. I keep wondering if it will make a reappearance at a later time.

I helped at a friend's baby shower last weekend. It was such a sweet shower, but it knocked me on my rear by the time it was over. No one there knew I was pregnant, so since that was a nausea-filled weekend, I just prayed I wouldn't get sick. My prayers were answered. It was a good day- and the storms held off until later that night, which was a blessing as well. Her shower was beautiful and her little girl is surely spoiled already, but isn't that how it is supposed to be?

Like I said, the nausea ended that Sunday. This past week has been great. I have been making myself go to the gym. I really never want to go after work, but I am always glad when I do. This weekend I have been sick with a head cold. I consider it a huge blessing, since the flu, stomach virus, and strep throat are running rampant at my school.

Still no news on the house. I am struggling with patience. I just hope I have a home to put my baby in when he/she gets here!

Just a few updates: 6 weeks, 2 days

I don't have anything too exciting to share, so I will just give some updates.

First... our house... or what will hopefully become a house. HOPEFULLY! We were supposed to close on our land and construction loan around mid-December, but that didn't occur. Our land was being foreclosed on, so it had to go through bankruptcy court before we could buy it. Waiting for the hard copies of that paperwork is what held us up into January. My first week back at work, after Christmas break, I got a phone call from my builder saying we had another problem. "Of course we do!!!" I wasn't surprised, but quite unhappy. When Damon and I negotiated a price on the land we put it in our name. Well, after two months on having the paperwork in their hands, the bank finally realized the land contract needed to be in our builder's name. This makes sense, but why did it take two months before anyone realized and why weren't we told this when we made the offer??? It's not like we could have made an offer for another person (our builder). This was completely the faults of our realtor and builder. It really irritates me. Now, we are waiting for an addendum to our land contract. Apparently it can take anywhere from days to a month OR MORE. It has currently been two weeks, so hmmm.... It doesn't look good. I would just really like a place to put our baby come September.  :-)

Now, baby updates- my favorite kind! I am six weeks and two days. Only three weeks 'til our ultrasound! I developed a new symptom yesterday. It took all day for me to realize it, but my sense of taste has changed... already. I wasn't expecting this change, but after multiple meals that tasted less than scrumptious, I realized something was up. Anyone who knows me knows I love food, and spicy food is a favorite. Yesterday, everything I ate was bland. Even with sauces or hot sauce I was not enjoying my food. I have never smoked, but I have heard that smokers have an altered sense of taste, where their food just doesn't taste as good as if they didn't smoke. What I am experiencing seems to fit that description. The food is not unappealing or nauseating in any way, it just isn't satisfying my taste buds. I think this is very interesting. It continued today as well.

My next symptom is actually Damon's. Hahaha! I know we have all heard of "pregnancy brain", where one is forgetful and scatterbrained. Well, I think my husband has developed "pregnancy brain" as a sympathy symptom, even this early on, and even though I don't have it yet. He has apparently forgotten how to use the microwave! I came home Friday night to a house that smelled like there had been a bonfire set in it. Seriously- it was B-A-D! Damon had caught a potato on fire in the microwave! No joke! Who knew that could happen? Well, it has been four days and the smell is not as intense, but it is still hanging around. Then, just a minute ago, he burned popcorn in the microwave. He said he put it on three minutes and forgot to keep and eye on it. When I asked him why he didn't use the "popcorn" button, he said he didn't know we had one. Yeah. Hmmm... All I can say is if one more thing gets burned in this house, I think my morning sickness will kick in. The smell is quite unpleasant to my nose (which has super powers now).

Aside from that little story, Damon has been great. He is very excited about this pregnancy and I can tell he is being more patient with my retarded-self than usual.

5 weeks, 3 days

It has been two weeks since I found out I was pregnant. In some ways it seems like time is moving at a snail's pace and in others it has gone by quickly. We have almost four weeks left until we get to see our baby and hear the heartbeat! I am very excited about that!

I don't really have much to share. My symptoms have been surprisingly by-the-book so far. I feel great and just very blessed! No nausea yet!

First Prenatal Appointment

This past Wednesday (01/04) was my first prenatal appointment! When I found out I was pregnant I began thinking about what doctor I wanted to use. I didn't overly love the doctor I had been seeing and desired a change. I was spoiled by the nurse practitioner I saw when I was in college. She was very personable, always remembered what was going on in my life, and would ask me all about it. She would sit and talk to me forever, never seeming pressed for time. She was so easy to talk to that I wondered if she was a therapist as well. Since completing my undergrad, it has been hard for me to find a doctor that even comes close to comparing to what I was used to having. Needless to say, my standards are a bit high. So, when the test was positive I started thinking about who I would try to see during this pregnancy.

I ended up making three appointments. I was so excited! I wanted to make the appointments ASAP and decide later which one I would keep and which I would cancel. After talking with many people, I decided to keep my appointment with Dr. Jennifer Bolton. So far, I think that was a great choice!

The day of my appointment I was 4 weeks, 3 days, so it was just a bloodwork appointment, I didn't even see Dr. Bolton. When I walked in, the receptionist, Cathy, said, "You must be Laura." Great first impression! As she collected the forms for me to fill out, she asked, "Is this your first baby?" That simple question struck a huge chord with me and I was grinning from ear to ear. To say I am thrilled about this pregnancy is an understatement.

Dr. Bolton's nurse practitioner, Tammy, called me back. She was so excited when she opened the door that one might think she was the one having a baby. I loved this practice instantly. Although Dr. Bolton is part of the Northport DCH practice, her office is not at the Women's Pavilion. Dr. Bolton's office is staffed by only three people: Dr. Bolton, Tammy (nurse practitioner), and Cathy (receptionist). The small staff makes it a very intimate practice. I was getting hugs when I left that morning.

The appointment went well. I enjoyed the conversation with Tammy. She is very sweet and gave me the personable appointment I was looking for. She called me the next morning and told me my HCG levels looked "really good", which was news I was ready to hear. My next appointment will be February 7th- a lifetime away! I will be 9 weeks and 2 days by then. Damon will go with me for that appointment, when I will get my first ultrasound!!!! I am counting down the days.

We're having a baby!!!

Damon and I are overjoyed to announce that we are going to have a new addition to our family! Our little bundle is expected around September 9th. I found out very early (3 weeks, 3 days), so waiting for the first ultrasound is killing me. If you are reading this, you have either been given early privileges (highly unlikely- I like my little secret), or I am now telling everyone our happy news.

The intention of this blog is to keep everyone informed of what is going on in our lives. Right now, our lives are consumed with baby baking and house building. We are trying desperately to get our new house built. As of today, the house stuff is slowly moving- we had another set back just this morning. Luckily, I have other things to keep my mind occupied, and it is not the large to-do list on my desk at work.

So, since the house leaves little to tell, I'll go back to BABY! Baby is more fun to talk about anyway.

I found out December 28th- a slightly late Christmas present (the best this girl could hope and pray for)! I was home alone. Damon was at work, but I decided to go ahead and take a test. We have been trying for a while, so this was not anything out of the usual few-days-before-the-period-is-expected routine. Some months I was so tired of negatives that I didn't even bother testing early, but this wasn't one of those months. I took the test first thing after I got up. After about 30 seconds I didn't see anything, so I put the test down on the rug and went to let the dog outside. As I walked back to the bathroom I cursed God a little, yelling at my ceiling, "What do I have to do before you will want to give me a baby?" Seriously. My exact words. Geez. When I got back to the bathroom I leaned against the door frame. I looked down and saw two lines on the test. Surprisingly, I did not get excited immediately. I just stood there a moment, then I got down on my hands and knees and just looked at it for a while (a good minute or two). I am so used to scrutinizing those tests, trying desperately to see a nonexistent second line, that I was pretty much in shock. Then I started squealing, much like a little girl on Christmas morning. I definitely felt that way.

Here is my first test: (Yes, I took a few over the next week)

I decided I would wrap the test and give it to Damon as a late Christmas present. Raise your hand if you think he saw right through it. Here is my happy news, all wrapped up:

Damon came home after work, just to run back out the door, so I decided to wait until later that night. We were lying in bed, he was quite consumed with whatever football news was on TV, and I was just patiently waiting for a good time to give him my present. I had been dying to tell him all day, but I didn't want to tell him over the phone, where he would have been excited at work, instead of with me. I finally gave him the gift. He opened it and was very happy, but he said he had a feeling something like that was up. When I asked him why he said it was because I was smiling to myself when I thought he couldn't see and he said I'm not the type to be all smiles without a reason. Yeah- my hubby knows me.

So, I had my first appointment today (1/4/2012) and I am anxiously awaiting my bloodwork results. I should get a call in the morning with my Hcg levels. Hoping for high levels! I'll keep you posted. My next post will be complete with appointment info and all my early pregnancy observations.

Thanks for reading!